What an amazing experience, and one that Denise and I had wanted to see for many years. The months of July to October see over two million animals traverse these plains as part of the Great Wildebeest Migration in their never ending search for water and nutrient dense grasses. This is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and what many call the “World Cup of Wildlife.” The energy of the bush is palpable as it literally hums with activity; the sheer numbers of animals boggles the mind and it is all part of being in this place during one of the most exhilarating times of the year.
We were able to experience the crossing three times in two days thanks to our wonderful guide Nelson. The wildebeest are the most indecisive group of animals and spends hours on the banks deciding whether to cross or not. When one goes the whole lot go! And they even jump off the cliffs to follow their fellow members! Sadly there are crocodiles waiting in the water and we witnessed one poor wildebeest being grabbed by a crocodile. The wildebeest struggled to get free but alas a second crocodile arrived to assist in the killing and that was the end of the poor wildebeest.
The Great Migration is the largest overland migration in the world, with wildlife travelling a total of 800 km or more during each cycle. The magnificence of the event lies in its magnitude. Between 1.5 to 2 million wildebeest, zebras and other species plod or canter across Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara in search of good grazing.
The constant movement of columns of wildebeest, joined by a host of companions, follow an age-old route in search of grazing and water. After calving in the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the animals journey through the Serengeti up and around in a clockwise direction towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, before returning once again near the end of the year. Along the way, high drama is always present, as thousands of animals are taken by predators and thousands more are born, replenishing the numbers and sustaining the circle of life.
